WORLDS BEST PAID ACTORS AND ACTRESSES

Oscars and Emmys are nice, but definitely not necessary to bank the highest paychecks in Hollywood. Last year’s top earner made his mark playing a supersized elf.By Forbes

Acclaim doesn’t always follow the money in showbiz.Certainly, the world’s highest-paid actors and actresses aren’t exactly wowing the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. None of them was even nominated for an acting Oscar this year. In fact, only four of them have ever won an Oscar.

But earn they do. In the course of a single year, these 20 stars pulled down some $460 million combined, according to Forbes’ annual listing of the

World’s Most Powerful Celebrities.Among this highly compensated group, Johnny Depp, who made $37 million, has come closest to winning the coveted 13.5-inch statuette in recent years. Last year, he was nominated for Best Actor for his performance in “Finding Neverland.” Close, but no statuette — the Oscar went to Jamie Foxx.
Depp had another chance this year, although not for Best Actor. Tim Burton’s “Corpse Bride,” for which Depp provided the voice of Victor Van Dort, was up for Best Animated Feature Film. But as in years past, Depp didn’t have much Oscar luck. In fact, despite a lengthy list of critically acclaimed performances, the 42-year-old star has yet to win an Oscar for his acting.

Another Hollywood Hunk, Tom Cruise, has nothing to show for his millions either — at least in terms of gold-plated statuettes. Despite earning $31 million in a single year, Cruise has just three nominations and no statuettes under his belt. At 43, the “War of the Worlds” star will try again with “Mission Impossible III,” which hits theaters later this year.